COMMERCIAL BUSINESS
As in its early days, Searcy continues to be a major trade center for local residents and others living in outlying areas. There are many shopping areas, a wide range of restaurants and other businesses ready to serve you. Chili’s, McAlister’s, JCPenneys, Lowes and Staples are just a few of the national chains that call Searcy home. The searcy area also boast a neat mix of boutiques, local restaurants and specialty stores. Our stable economic base and increase in population has allowed commercial businesses to flourish in our area. A boom in the hotel industry occurred increasing the number of rooms available to nearly 850 units.
The downtown area offers a quaint mix of eating establishments, retail stores, business offices and financial institutions. The Main Street Searcy Program strives to keep businesses in the downtown area and works to secure grants to help maintain the appearance of our downtown.
MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY
Manufacturing and Distribution comprise approximately 10% of the employment in our area. Although our community suffered the loss of Yarnell Ice Cream Company in 2011, two local manufacturers have expanded their operations and added jobs.
Searcy’s partnership with business and industry is coordinated and facilitated by the Searcy Regional Economic Development Corporation and the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce. Major existing production and/or distribution centers and major office/public sector employers are listed in the demographics section (click here).
GAS EXPLORATION
The most recent economic boom to hit our region has been the discovery of the Fayetteville Shale Play. It has brought in an influx of millions of dollars into the region by way of employment, leasing options and royalties.
AVIATION INDUSTRY
Searcy’s Municipal Airport is one of the faster growing top general aviation airports in the state with 100 or more based aircraft with daily corporate and private business operations. The airport also welcomed many charter operations, fire fighting, medical transplant and rescue operations and fixed wing and rotor craft flight training activities. A recently completed eight million dollar expansion included extending the runway to 6008’ and widening to 100’ with a weight capacity of 80,000 pounds.
The airport is equipped with state of the art instrument approach facilities, FAA computerized, automated weather stations as well as runway and approach lighting to meet the latest requirements for all weather operations.
A new taxiway was recently completed and angars have been constructed to capacity on the north side of the taxiway and expansion is underway on the south side. The new parking ramp has also been completed and is in use. Future airport plans include a new 4,000-5,000 square foot terminal building. This modernization has put Searcy at the forefront of General Aviation airports to better serve the regions business and general aviation community needs.
The airport is capable of accommodating G5 ACFT and serves a variety of corporations and businesses that fly jets, turbo-props and piston ACFT into and out of the airport on a regular basis. The airport is attended from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and is open to flight operations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Self serve fuel is available as well as hanger space and maintenance. A total of 45 people are employed at the airport with a total payroll exceeding $ 1,000,000.
www.aogc.state.ar.us/Fay_Shale_Data.htm
Arkansas Employment Security Division
www.state.ar.us/esd
Arkansas Labor Statistics
www.discoverarkansas.net